Hello. I have a 20-foot twin keel Russell. Not a well-known boat. Has a small cabin, room for four to sleep cozily. It was given to me, is in decent sailing condition but minus an outboard. I have another friend who has a Nissan 5hp outboard (not a long-shaft) and is willing to give it to me. I was looking for a long-shaft 8-10 hp. So, my question is, would the nissan 5 work for this size boat generally? I mostly will be sailing on Lake Union and Lake Washington, although it's possible I'll take it into Puget Sound as well. Thanks much for any suggestions! Cheryl Phillips
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Motor size
My guess is 5hp sounds okay for a 20ft boat and most lake conditions, but may be marginal for Puget Sound.
My guess is 5hp sounds okay for a 20ft boat and most lake conditions, but may be marginal for Puget Sound.
8 hp
I have a 23' ODay a very heavy boat with an 8 HP Honda ad it has plenty of power even for Galveston Bay. I think the 5 should work just fin on your 20.
I have a 23' ODay a very heavy boat with an 8 HP Honda ad it has plenty of power even for Galveston Bay. I think the 5 should work just fin on your 20.
6 hp on lake Michigan
Years ago we had a 26' full keel, heavy sailboat which was sucessfully pushed along with a 2 cylinder 6 hp outboard. A 5 hp should work well for you if the prop size is right. The prop should be sized for a heavy load not for speed. The price is certainly right - give the 5 hp a try, you have little to lose.
Years ago we had a 26' full keel, heavy sailboat which was sucessfully pushed along with a 2 cylinder 6 hp outboard. A 5 hp should work well for you if the prop size is right. The prop should be sized for a heavy load not for speed. The price is certainly right - give the 5 hp a try, you have little to lose.
Go with the 5 hp
I use a 7.5 Honda on a 28 ft keel boat on Lake Michigan works great. Almost time!!!!!!!! Tom s/v GAIA
I use a 7.5 Honda on a 28 ft keel boat on Lake Michigan works great. Almost time!!!!!!!! Tom s/v GAIA
You must have some really cool friends!
You got a boat for free, and it actually floats? I don't think I've ever seen a free boat that would actually float! (at least not for very long!) Then, you get a motor for free? Wow, you must have really good karma or something! As to the motor, go for it, 5hp should be fine, but, like Paul said, prop it for power, not speed. Jeff
You got a boat for free, and it actually floats? I don't think I've ever seen a free boat that would actually float! (at least not for very long!) Then, you get a motor for free? Wow, you must have really good karma or something! As to the motor, go for it, 5hp should be fine, but, like Paul said, prop it for power, not speed. Jeff
Be careful
As long as your not dealing with a tidal current, you might find you have enough power. I'm not sure of the speed of a full ebb on Pudget sound, but if you couple that with a nasty squall line, a longer shaft and a few more HP might sound pretty good. Just a thought *yks
As long as your not dealing with a tidal current, you might find you have enough power. I'm not sure of the speed of a full ebb on Pudget sound, but if you couple that with a nasty squall line, a longer shaft and a few more HP might sound pretty good. Just a thought *yks
Thanks!
Thank you so much for all the input. I think I'm going to go with the free 5hp for now. I don't expect to go out to the sound much this first summer while I get used to the boat anyway. So, I'll try it out and then see if I need more power. Cheers, Cheryl
Thank you so much for all the input. I think I'm going to go with the free 5hp for now. I don't expect to go out to the sound much this first summer while I get used to the boat anyway. So, I'll try it out and then see if I need more power. Cheers, Cheryl
BIG MOTOR
I have a brother in Puyallup. He says the tides are an issue. My atomic 4 is insufficient in Green Bay where we experience 3-4' waves with no tide. I suggest a 350 Chev for your purposes!
I have a brother in Puyallup. He says the tides are an issue. My atomic 4 is insufficient in Green Bay where we experience 3-4' waves with no tide. I suggest a 350 Chev for your purposes!
Some sailors sail
their boats when there is wind...Just a thought. Actually I trust my sails a lot more than my motor(volvo diesel). And the fastest my boat has ever traveled was under sail. I've been amazed at the number of boats that drop their sails and motor when a little wind comes along. Usually we put in a reef and keep on sailing.
their boats when there is wind...Just a thought. Actually I trust my sails a lot more than my motor(volvo diesel). And the fastest my boat has ever traveled was under sail. I've been amazed at the number of boats that drop their sails and motor when a little wind comes along. Usually we put in a reef and keep on sailing.
Always Check Currents
Cheryl, I have sailed in the San Juans and tidal currents are THE MOST important factor in navigation for that area. Daily currents from 3 to 5 Knots are common, your 5 Hp should be fine for your boat. However, no one tries to fight the currents (in a sailboat anyway)regardless of engine size cause the current is going to turn around in a couple hours anyway and makes no sense to motor at 5 knots against 4 knt current. I haven't sailed your part of the sound but I've flown over it and you can SEE very strong currents. It is important you check tide and current charts before setting out or you could be sailing at 4 Knts. and actually going backwards.
Cheryl, I have sailed in the San Juans and tidal currents are THE MOST important factor in navigation for that area. Daily currents from 3 to 5 Knots are common, your 5 Hp should be fine for your boat. However, no one tries to fight the currents (in a sailboat anyway)regardless of engine size cause the current is going to turn around in a couple hours anyway and makes no sense to motor at 5 knots against 4 knt current. I haven't sailed your part of the sound but I've flown over it and you can SEE very strong currents. It is important you check tide and current charts before setting out or you could be sailing at 4 Knts. and actually going backwards.
5 hp Should be Fine
The 5-hp should work fine for most conditions and be able to get your boat up to or close to hull speed. More horsepower will add some speed but very little and will burn a lot more gas which means more gas tanks to lug along. Since it's an older boat the thing I'd work on are the sails, rig, and rig tuning. Make sure the stays are in good condition. The sails could probably really use some tweaking given their age. Take some digital pictures looking up the sail and take them to a sail loft for an opinion. North Sails upstairs over Fisheries Supply has a computer they can analize the pictures with, as to some of the other lofts. Baggy sails will cause the boat to heel easily and make it difficult to sail. This is especially noticable in gusts. Would you take her through the locks? That would be an interesting trip in a 20 footer!
The 5-hp should work fine for most conditions and be able to get your boat up to or close to hull speed. More horsepower will add some speed but very little and will burn a lot more gas which means more gas tanks to lug along. Since it's an older boat the thing I'd work on are the sails, rig, and rig tuning. Make sure the stays are in good condition. The sails could probably really use some tweaking given their age. Take some digital pictures looking up the sail and take them to a sail loft for an opinion. North Sails upstairs over Fisheries Supply has a computer they can analize the pictures with, as to some of the other lofts. Baggy sails will cause the boat to heel easily and make it difficult to sail. This is especially noticable in gusts. Would you take her through the locks? That would be an interesting trip in a 20 footer!
I have a 4.5 HP
I have a 1982 Hunter 22. It is a swing Keel boat with normal ballest. I have a Johnson 4.5 HP outboard on the back. I was going against the wind and the current and I was still making 5.3 knots. I used the engine for 6 hours and burnt 1/4 a tank of gas. Impressive! THe 5 HP should be fine, just mount your motor bracket low enough to keep your lower unit in the water. Mine could be a few inches lower but I am going let things be! Good Luck
I have a 1982 Hunter 22. It is a swing Keel boat with normal ballest. I have a Johnson 4.5 HP outboard on the back. I was going against the wind and the current and I was still making 5.3 knots. I used the engine for 6 hours and burnt 1/4 a tank of gas. Impressive! THe 5 HP should be fine, just mount your motor bracket low enough to keep your lower unit in the water. Mine could be a few inches lower but I am going let things be! Good Luck
Can't always sail everywhere
Going up the ICW and the long channel to my marina. Plus the diesel keeps the batteries charged. But even the ICW can be sailed. Last summer going west with the wind we sailed over 50 miles on the ICW!!! But even a tacking maniac would have trouble tacking upwind in a 100' channel!!!! A bigger problem is I've not yet learned how to sail my P323 backwards into a slip. Some say I haven't learned to motor the P323 backwards into a slip!!! I do consider my sails as my primary means of propulsion!!!!
Going up the ICW and the long channel to my marina. Plus the diesel keeps the batteries charged. But even the ICW can be sailed. Last summer going west with the wind we sailed over 50 miles on the ICW!!! But even a tacking maniac would have trouble tacking upwind in a 100' channel!!!! A bigger problem is I've not yet learned how to sail my P323 backwards into a slip. Some say I haven't learned to motor the P323 backwards into a slip!!! I do consider my sails as my primary means of propulsion!!!!
Thank you some more
All of your advice is very helpful. I will take some pics of the sails as suggested, and pay attention to the tuning. I think I'll give it a try with the 5 hp. As for the locks, I'm certainly going to take my time getting used to the boat on Lake Union and Lake Washington before I attempt that! Cheryl
All of your advice is very helpful. I will take some pics of the sails as suggested, and pay attention to the tuning. I think I'll give it a try with the 5 hp. As for the locks, I'm certainly going to take my time getting used to the boat on Lake Union and Lake Washington before I attempt that! Cheryl
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